2 Corinthians 12

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the LORD.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, ( whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; ) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God has known—such a one being snatched up to the third heaven;

3 And I knew such a man, ( whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; )

and I have known such a man—whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God has known—

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

that he was snatched up to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

Of such a one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses,

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

for if I may wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will say truth; but I refrain, lest in regard to me anyone may think anything above what he sees me, or hears anything of me;

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted too much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might batter me, that I might not be exalted too much.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

I called on the LORD three times concerning this thing, that it might depart from me,

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness”; most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

for this reason I am well pleased in weaknesses, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses—for Christ; for whenever I may be weak, then I am powerful;

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

I have become a fool—boasting; you compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you, for I was behind the very chiefest apostles in nothing—even if I am nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

The signs, indeed, of the apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,

13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other Assemblies, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

for what is there in which you were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Behold, a third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I do not seek yours, but you, for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children,

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

and I will most gladly spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, loving you more abundantly, I am loved less.

16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

And be it [so], I did not burden you, but being crafty, I took you with guile;

17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

anyone of those whom I have sent to you—did I take advantage of you by him?

18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

I begged Titus, and sent with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Did we not [walk] in the same steps?

19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Again, [do] you think that we are making defense to you? We speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building,

20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

for I fear lest, having come, I may not find you such as I wish, and I may be found by you such as you do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, slanders, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may mourn many of those having sinned before, and having not changed their mind concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and licentiousness, that they practiced.